LEISURE
SUSTAINABLE WILDLIFE CENTRE OPENS IN ESSEX COUNTRY PARK
A brand-new wildlife discovery centre has opened in Essex’s River Lee Country Park – using fully recyclable materials that will reduce the building’s impact on landfill waste. Here, Perfect Circle talks to PSBJ about the centre’s development, the history of the site and the new building’s environmental impact.
development T hehas£700,000 replaced the former Bittern Information Point, which, after 30 years, had run the course of its lifespan. The new centre offers far-reaching, 3600 views of the surrounding area from the 5m viewing tower, allowing birdwatchers and nature lovers to take a closer look at the wildlife in the park, which is situated
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in the 26 mile-long Lee Valley Regional Park – stretching from the Thames to Hertfordshire. Property, construction and infrastructure consultancy Perfect Circle – a company jointly owned by Pick Everard, Gleeds and AECOM – was appointed by Lee Valley Regional Park Authority through SCAPE, a leading
public sector procurement authority, to provide project management, structural engineering, principal design, civil engineering and upfront QS costings to the project. The works were accelerated by SCAPE Consultancy, a direct award framework that drives collaboration, efficiency, time and cost savings.
Victoria Brambini, Managing Director of Perfect Circle, said: “We are delighted to have worked alongside Lee Valley Regional Park Authority, architect firm Andris Berzins & Associates and contractor Carmelcrest Construction for this project, which has breathed new life into River Lee Country Park. “Wartime bombing, changes in industry and post-war reconstruction meant that more than 50 years ago, the area surrounding the River Lee was derelict and neglected. But over the past five decades, the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority has been dedicated to transforming the area into a world-class destination. “The centre – located on a remote site between two rivers – comes complete with a CCTV system and live nest boxes, which will provide undisturbed, close-up access to the area’s wildlife for visitors of all ages. The coronavirus pandemic has shown us how much people value open spaces and the ability to get close to nature, so we are expecting it to become one of the most popular areas to visit for both the local community and tourists.”
